Razor blade



Dec. 27, 1938. w. H. HUENERGARDT ,1

RAZOR BLADE Original Filed June 15, 1954.

INVENTOR. W////d/11 H Hymeardf v BY )1 Q.

TTORNEY I Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE RAZOR BLADE 730,697. 1936, Serial N0. 75,305

10 Claims.

This invention relates torazor blades and more particularly to safety razor blades, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes. This application 5 is a division of application serially numbered 730,697 and filed June 15, 1934. I

It contemplates more especially the provision of a novel razor blade that is flexible, readily destructible' and precludes the necessity for manual blade manipulation or handling with the fingers for placement andremoval relative to its holder in the use thereof for shaving purposes.

Many types of razor blades have heretofore been employed for shaving purposes and they have been generally used for home shaving. It is true, nevertheless, that the use of razor blades in the home presents a problem of blade manipulation,disposition, as well as the hazards accompanying the handling thereof with the fingers for placement and removal relative to the razor or holder utilized therewith for shaving purposes. This is especially true in connection with safety razors that have detachably associated razor blades of a hazardous nature so far as handling, destruction and disposition are concerned.

It is manifest, therefore, that the provision of a diminutive, readily destructible and mechaically manipulated blade and container therefor 30 that enables the transfer of blades from one to the other without 'the requirement for manual handling with the fingers in the use thereof, presents a rather important advantage which overcomes the hazards of manual handling with the fingers, blade manipulation for association with the holder, and eventual disposal of the blades that in and of itself is a serious and hazardous problem from a shavers standpoint. Then, too, effective single hand manipulation of a razor for receiving a blade, removing the blade, and effecting the replacement of blades without the required handling with the fingers, solves a problem in home shavingthat long existed and has evaded a solution in the provision of a simple, inexpensive and efficient blade and blade container construction.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved razor blade that is capable of single hand manipulation both in the use thereof as well as preparatory thereto.

Another object is to provide an improved razor blade holder that is capable of single hand manipulation for the retention and release of the blade to meet shaving requirements.

Still another object is to provide an improved Divided and this application April 20',

1 less than one-half of its length with a plurality of transverse regions of weakness for ready destruction and safe disposal.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing: a

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a razor blade holder embodying features of the present invention, the dotted outline showing the blade holding parts in released position.

Fig. 2 is a front View in elevation of the razor shown in Figure 1.

Figure'3 is a plan view of a razor showing a blade in operative position for shaving.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the razor cap and guard in conjunction with the blade preparatory to displacing the blade guard to its operative position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VV of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a front view in elevation of a razor blade container or magazine embodying features of the 'present invention, parts thereof being broken away to clarify the showing.

Figure 7 isa sectional view taken substantially along line VII-VII of Figure 6 with the razor shown in cooperation therewith to effect the removal or deposition of a blade relative thereto.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIII-VIII of Figure 6 with the container closure in its operative position for fully confining the blades therein.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IXIX of Figure 6 with the closure removed to present an opening through which the blades can be deposited or removed.

Figure 10 is an end view of the container shown in Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a razor blade that is utilized in connection with the razor and container disclosed in Figures 1 and 6, respectively.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a handle'member l0 which is elongated and of any desired configuration to enable man ual grasp and manipulation thereof in conjunction with a blade holder II which is integrally or otherwise connected thereto through the medium of an elongated shank I2 of substantially rectangular cross-section. As shown, the holder II comprises the top cap member and is of substantially rectangular configuration to 'provide an off-set blade engaging surface I3. The

oiT-set blade engaging surface I3 defines a shoulder I4 that is adapted to confront a guard member I5 which has an extension I6 possessed of a curved edge II to present serrations I8 de-' fined by transverse slots I9 at uniformly spaced intervals therealong.

In consequence thereof, the serrated edge I'I serves as a razor blade guard in a manner customary with safety razor operation for displacement along the skin to be shaved. A guard member I5 corresponds in configuration and is somewhat shorter than the cap member II, but extends laterally therefrom so as to enable the confronting application thereof without obstructing the serrated edge I! and its slots I9. In the present instance, a guard member I5 has a surface 20 confronting the blade sustaining surface I3 of the cap member II to serveas a complement thereof with the normally related surface 2I adjacent the shoulder I4 of the cap member I I, thereby defining normally related surfaces I 3I4 and 2ll2I on both the cap member II and guard member I5, respectively, so as to receive a blade 22 therebetween.

The blade 22 is retained against the end serrations 23 and 24 comprising a part of the serrated edge I"! of the guard I 5. As shown, the end serrations 23 and 24 are provided with an elevated formation defining shoulders 25 that receive the blade shaving edge 26 thereagainst for positioning relative to studs 21 mounted for. extension from the surface I3, of the cap member II. The

studs 2'! afford registry with perforations 28 provided in the blade 22 in correspondingly spaced relation therewith so' as to effect registry therebetween to preclude lateral movement. So that the studs 21 do not serve as an obstruction to the guard I5, the latter is provided with correspondingly shaped grooves 29 for freely receiving the studs 27 therein to allow the guard I5 to lie flush with and contact the surface of the blade 22 which is thus supported against the surface I3 of the cap or holder I I.

It is worthy of note that the apertures 28 that cooperate with the studs 21 on the cap II, also serve to weaken the blade 22 along transverse regions so as to enable the ready destruction'of the entire blade 22 into minute segments for convenient disposal with safety. the blade 22 may be provided with any number of additional apertures 39, in this instance one, disposed intermediate the apertures 28 so that the blade can be reduced to at least four segments for flushing disposal by placement in the lavatory constituting the customary bathroom facility. This is especially effective in conjunction with the elongated. blade 22 which has a width substantially less than one-half of its length so as to render the segments comparatively minute, light, and readily disposable in the manner referred to supra. In the present embodiment, the blade 22 has a width that is approximately one-eighth of its length, and the provision'of the perforations 28-30 weakens the already transversely delicate blade 22 so as to en- 7 -the cap member II.

To this end,

. otal mount therefor.

the flat surface I3 of the cap II, a blade engaging member BI is reciprocally mounted relative to To this end, the shank I2 is furcated to receive the blade retaining member 3! therebetween for reciprocal guidance by means of pins 32 and 33 that bridge the furcations of the shank I2 to cooperate with slots 34 and 35 communicating with the edges 36 and 31, respectively, of the retaining member 3I. The reciprocal member 3i is provided with a blade engaging projections 38 that confronts the flat surface I3 of the cap member II and constitutes a complement thereof to retain a blade 22 therebetween.

In order to urge the reciprocal member 3I with its blade engaging projection 38 to its normally operative position against the surface I3 of the cap member II, a coiled spring 39 is confined in a vertical bore 40 provided in the member 3I to communicate with the bottom edge 3! thereof, the spring 39 being normally of a greater length 7 than the bore 40 so as to engage the bottom surface 4I defined by the furcations of the shank I2, thereby normally displacing the reciprocal member 3| vertically upward or in the direction of the fiat surface I3 of the cap member II so that the confronting complement '38 will be in engagement therewith to normally retain a blade 22 therebetween with its ground shaving edge 26 in exposed application to the serrated edge I! to enable the effective use thereof for shaving purposes. I

To insure a predetermined movement between the guard member I5 and the blade holder or cap II as well asto guide the confronting approach thereof, the guard member I5 is provided with furcations 42 and 43 that are sufiiciently spaced to receive the furcated shank i2 therebetween to guide the reciprocal movement of the guard member I5 relative to the cap member II. .So that the guard member I5 will not be separable from the cap member II beyond controlled movement relative thereto, a spacer rod 44 bridges the'levers 42 and 43 to engagethe inclined edge 45'of the shank I2 so as to guide the relative movement between the cap member II and guard I5 so that one serves asa comple- 'ment of the other in blade engaging position.

In order that the movement of the guide member I5 may be effected relative to the cap member I I responsive to single hand manipulation, a bellcrank lever 46 has furcated arms 41 and 48 which receive the reduced extension 49 of the furcated shank I2'therebetween so as to be in substantial alignment with the furcations thereof and to be telescopically received by the lever furcations 42 and 43 of the guard member I5.

It is to be noted that the'furcated lever arms 4! and 48 of the bell-crank lever 46 are pivotally mounted on the reduced portion 49 of the furcated shank I2 by means of a pin 59 which extends completely therethrough to serve as a piv- The furcations 42 and 43 are, in turn, connected tothe lever arms 6! and 48 by means of individual pins PH and 52 which pivotally connect the extremities 'of the furcations 42 and" 43 to arms 41 and 48 of the bellcrank lever 46, thereby rendering the guard member I5 responsive to the thumb manipulated action thereof. The arms 41 and 48 of the lever 46 are pronouncedly curved as at 53 to constitute a camming surface against the shoulders 54 defined by the reduced shank portion 49 in conjunction with its furcated shank L2 to impart the desired movement to. the. guard 15 as well as, to. lock it in operative position to sustain the blade 2-2 against the cap surface l3 when the bell-crank lever 46 is displaced to its extreme counter-clockwise position (viewed from Figure 1) so as to engage the inclined edge 45 of the shank 12.

To this end, the cam-ming edge 53 of: the furcated lever it terminates in. an angular edge 55 that constitutes a complement of the shoulders 54 defined by the furcated shank i2: in conjunction with the reduced portion 49 thereof so as to be locked in position thereagainst owing to the pivot relation o-f'the furcations 4Z3 andlever arms 5!48 that have off-set pivots 5B and 5l52 to present a desirable toggle action.

In order to release the blade 22 from its engaged sive to the thumb manipulation of the lever 4'6 in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 1). It will be apparent, therefore, that the substantially rectangular cutout 58 provided in the guard member l5 to receive the furcated shank 12 with its intermediate retaining member M, will engage the inclined cam surface 5'! of the lateral retaining member extension 55 so as to displace the blade engaging extension 38 thereof from operative blade engaging position.

In consequence thereof, the blade retaining member 39. is displaced from the cap member H against the edge of the spring 39 responsive to the thumb manipulation of the bell-crank lever as in a clockwise direction (dotted outline of Figure 1) so that the guard member if) will engage the surface 5'! and thus displace the retaining member 3! therewith to release the blade 22. Partial manual release of the bell-crank lever will return the blade retaining member 3! to its operative blade engaging position owing to the spring 39 and the manipulation of the lever 45 is only operative so far as the blade retaining member 3! is concerned, in its extreme clockwise position (viewed from Figure 1) and only for a fractional movement thereof enabling the grasp of the blade 22 between the cap member H and the engaging projection 33 irrespective of the position of the guard member !'5 relative to the cap member ii.

In order to retain the blades 22 in an orderly protected manner as well as to afford the utilization thereof without direct handling with the fingers, a novel container or magazine is provided therefor. The container comprises, in this instance, a cylindrical casing that includes discshaped end members and 5! having an intermediate cylindrical member 52 comprising two complemental sections 63 and 64. As shown, the disc-shaped end members 88 and iii are provided with circumferential or peripheral flanges 65 that define annular confronting grooves 66 in both end members 65 and (ii for receiving the edges of the casing sections E33 and E6 therein in order to comprise an enclosure.

The sections 63 and 64 are movable in the annular confronting grooves 66 of the discs (iii and iii, and the aforesaid parts are maintained in assembled relation by means of a rod 6'! ex- I tending axially therethrough to engage the end shaped on the end disc member iii members 65 and BI, thereby maintaining the desired spaced relation thereof and affording circumferential displacement of the sections 63 and 64 relative to each other and to the end members 60 andfii. In order to support a plurality of blades 22' for confinement in the container, the end members 6! and iii are provided with a plurality of radially directed or arranged slots 68, in this instance ten, that extend to the periphery of the discs 60 and tiand terminate short of the axes thereof to support the blades 22 owing to the engagement of the end extensions E9 and ii) that protrude beyond the ground shaving edge 25 of the blade 22.

In consequence thereof, the blades 22 are supported with their blunt edge H proximate to the periphery of the container sections 63 and 64- that are so related and formed to provide limited movement therebetween as to define an opening 12'. To this end, the casing section 63 is provided with an off-set portion 13 so as to be displaced laterally of the section 54 which is crimpedas at 'M' for a distance to limit the overlapping relation of the section 63 relative to the section M as at l5 commensurate with or a distance slightly greater than the opening 12 (Figure 9) As shown, the casing section 53 is provided with an outwardly directed flange 16 that enables the manipulation thereof for circular displacement relative to the casing section 64 as well as the end discs 59 and BI.

In order to index the position of the casing sections 53 and 64 relative to each other as well as to define the opening E2 in exact radial alignment with each blade 22 mounted in the slots 68 of the end discs Eli and a plurality of lugs or trips 11 are provided on the end disc member 6! to extend in the longitudinal direction of the casing sections 63 and 64. The trips H correspond in number to the blade capacity of the container as defined by the radial slots 68, and these trips Tl extend in the path of the flange it for obstruction thereto and to permit limited movement between each successive trip H as such are bent out of the path of the flange 16. The trips H are stamped or otherwise for positioning substantially in accordance with the spacing of the razor blades 22 therein, these corresponding in number therewith. so that the successive engagement thereof with the casing flange l6 will present a blade 22 substantially intermediate the opening 12. The trips Tl serve, therefore, to index the position of the next new blade 22 in the container. Then, too, each of the slots 68 may be numbered on the end surface of the disc E58 to provide indicia in this in stance from i to ill which number the blades that remain therein, and each trip ET is positioned so as to be obstructed by the flange l5 and a stop 13 provided on the casing sections 63 and 64, respectively. Consequently, the cas-- i'ng section 53 is capable of being displaced so that the flange 16 will engage a lug IT in a direction to close the opening 12.

When the next blade 22 is desired for use in connection with the razor of the type described supra, the projection M on the casing section 64 will be'manipulated so as to effect the displacement thereof in a direction corresponding with the previously displaced section 63 until the sections 53-4 are overlapped as at 73 to their limit, thereby again effecting a predetermined opening 12 to render accessible thesucceeding blade 22 which will be in registry therewith. 0f 75' course, the casing section 63 cannot be displaced to close the opening 12 until the trip 11 in engagement therewith is bent upwardly as at 19 so as to permit the closure of the opening 12. Subsequent or a repeated intermittent movement of the section 64 in the same direction effects another opening 12 over the next succeeding-blade 22. In this manner, the opening 12 is successively indexed for communication with succeeding blades 22. Thus, the casing sections 63 and 64 are intermittently displaced for distances corresponding with the opening 12 so as to successively communicate and effect registry with succeeding blades until the last has been used. When all the new blades have been used, the flange 16 on the section 63 will engage a stop or trip 80 pro vided on the disc 60. Then, too, the indicia l to H! on the end surface of the disc 60 also indicates the number of blades that have been used when considered in conjunction with the position of the flange 12 disposed relative thereto.

Now, then, in order to transfer the blade or blades 22 from the container described supra to the razor without finger contact with the blades 22, the razor handle I0 is grasped by the attendant and the toggle lever 46 thumb manipulated to substantially assume its dotted line position as shown in Figure 1. With additional thumb force imparted to the lever 46 in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 1), the blade retaining member 3! releases its frictional engaging extension 38 from the used blade 22 therein so as to enable the removal thereof and/or its deposit in an unoccupied slot 68 provided in the container ends 60 and 6 l. Thereupon, the casing section 63 is displaced in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 9) to close the opening 12. Asuccessive new blade is then rendered available by displacing the casing section 64 in a corresponding direc tion (clockwise as viewed from Figure 9) until the crirnped projection 14 engages the other end of the section 63 to define another opening 12 above the successive blade 22.

The razor I0 is then held in the hand of: the attendant who again depresses the toggle lever 36 to efiect the separation oftheretaining members! from the cap member ll so as to receive the blade edge H therebetween with the perforations 28 in registry with the studs 21. Whereupon, the toggle lever 46 is released by the thumb so that the spring 39 will urge theretaining member 3| toward the cap H to efiect the grasp of the "blade 22 for removal from the container preparatory to shaving. The guard member I5 is then displaced with a continuing motion of the thumb so that the lever 46 will be moved in a counterclockwise direction (viewed'from Figure l) to assume its operative position. Succeeding the old blades 22 need not be redeposited in the slot 68 of the container, but "can be disposed by reducing such to segments in a manner described supra, and placed in a lavatory for safe disposal as previously suggested.

With the arrangement of parts above described, it will be apparent that a novel, simple, inexpensive and eifective razor, razor blade, and container therefor, have been provided to render home shaving more convenient, inexpensive, and devoid of the usual hazards and concern that usually accompanies ordinary blade disposal. Various changes may be made in the embodipart thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a razor blade holder, the combination with a casing having an opening, means in said casing for retaining a plurality of razor blades in a predetermined position for support without impairment to the shaving edge thereof, a closure movably mounted on said casing relative to said opening, and indexing means serving as positive stops for successively bringing the razor blades in registry with .said opening for individual removal therefrom.

2. In a razor blade holder, the combination with a. casing having an opening, means in said casing for retaining a plurality of razor blades in a predetermined position for support without impairment to the shaving edge thereof, protruding means on said retaining means to successively limit the displacement of said blade retaining means for successively bringing the blades in registry with said casing opening, said protruding means serving as positive successive stops at each indexed position of alignment between said blade and opening, and a closure movably mounted on said casing relative to said opening.

3. In a razor blade holder, the combination with a casing having an opening, means in said casing for retaining a plurality of razor blades in a predetermined position for support without impairment to the shaving edge thereof, protruding blade registry indexing means on said retaining means normally serving as a positive obstruction in blade aligning position with said casing opening, said protruding blade registry indexing means being readily deformable for removal from obstruction to permit the displacement of said blade retaining means for registry of the successive blades with said opening and a closure movably mounted on said casing relative to said opening.

, 4. In a razor blade mechanism, the combination with a casing having an opening, means in said casing for retaining a plurality of razor blades in a predetermining position for support without impairment to the shaving edge thereof, a closure movably mounted on said casing relative to said opening/positive indexing means serving as stops for successively bringing the razor blades in registry with said opening for individual removal therefrom, said casing opening providing a path of communication for a razor with the interior of said casing, and a razor having blade grasping means for loading a blade directly from said magazine by manipulation of said grasping means.

5. In a razor blade mechanism, the combination with a casing having an opening, means in said casing for retaining a plurality of razor blades in a predetermined position for support without impairment to the shaving edge thereof, a closure movably mounted on said casing relative to said opening, indexing means for successively bringing the razor blades in registry with said opening for individual removal therefrom, said casing opening providing a path of communication for a razor with the interior of said casing, and a razor having blade grasping means,

ill

and means on said razor to manipulate said grasping means for loading a blade directly from said magazine to said razor.

6. In a razor blade mechanism, the combination with a casing having an opening, means in said casing for retaining a plurality of razor blades in a predetermined position for support without impairment to the shaving edge thereof, a closure movably mounted on said casing relative to said opening, indexing means for successively bringing the razor blades in registry with said opening for individual removal therefrom, said casing opening providing a path of communication for a razor with the interior of said casing, a razor having spring impelled blade grasping means, and means for loading a blade directly from said magazine to said razor.

7. In a razor blade mechanism, the combination with a casing having an opening, means in said casing for retaining a plurality of razor blades in a predetermined position for support without impairment to the shaving edge thereof, a closure movably mountedon said casing relative to said opening, indexing means for successively bringing the razor blades in registry with said opening for individual removal therefrom;

said casing opening providing a path of communication for a razor with the interior of said casing, a razor having spring impelled blade grasping means, and lever means having a toggle action for loading a blade directly from said magazine to said razor.

8. In a razor blade container, the combination with a cylindrical casing having an opening in the curved wall thereof for admitting a razor therethrough, means for radially supporting a plurality of razor blades in said casing, a closure circumferentially associated with said casing for movement relative to said opening therein, and means for governing the relative movement between said casing and closure for successively bringing the blades in successive registry with said opening to enable removal by a razor in communication therewith.

9. In a razor blade container, the combination with a cylindrical casing having an opening in the curved wall thereof for admitting a razor therethrough, means for radially supporting a plurality of razor blades in said casing, a closure circumferentially associated with said casing for movement relative to said opening therein, means for governing the relative movement between said casing and closure, for indexing the position of the blades in successive registry with said opening to enable removal by a razor in communication therewith.

10. In a razor blade container, the combination with a cylindrical casing having an opening in the curved wall thereof for admitting a razor therethrough, means for radially supporting a plurality of razor blades in said casing, a closure circumferentially associated with said casing for movement relative to said opening therein, means for governing the relative movement between said casing and closure for indexing the position of the blades in successive registry with said opening to enable removal by a razor in communication therewith.

WILLIAM H. HUENERGARDT. 

